Our First Phase is done: Repair of the steps and replacement of the railings up to the Dias Cross Heritage Site: Safety First. We hope you approve.

Some pictures attached show the results of kind donations of cash, cement, materials, food, time, effort and know-how by friends far and near. The funds, provided entirely by generous donors in Luderitz, across Namibia, South Africa, Germany and England, covered all costs so far of about N$70,000, leaving a positive balance as ‘seed money’ for the next phase. We are immensely grateful to all who have made this possible.

We sold the wood of the old bridge, leaving the eastern end and a pair of pillars as a memento, plus two beams left in place in the new landing at the foot of the steps.

Our admirable local team worked in icy winds and some high swells from 18th August to 5th September under Milton Pitt and Josef Kaunda Amupolo.

They were supervised, provided for and assisted gratis by our Project Manager Helmuth Syvertsen, a 5th generation Buchter, to whom our huge gratitude for his generous contribution and enthusiasm.

They repaired and widened the old steps and added some new ones;

Removed the old rusted railings; replaced them with new double guard-rails; and

Set them in a new facebricked concrete channel up the north-east (lee) side.

The handrails and concrete-filled posts made by Namgreenwood of recycled plastic and wood should not be affected by swells and gales at Dias Point for generations.

We did not install new railings at the Top around the Cross. That remains a safety factor at the actual Heritage Site, to be addressed in Phase Two, under the NHC.

Phase Two will include construction of a safe structure across the tidal river – sizes, designs and estimates still being reconsidered. This Phase will more closely involve the National Heritage Council and the full Luderitz Town Council, both of which are eager to start as soon as possible. They have indicated that resources would be available once designs and procedures are approved, after professional input, currently being sought. We welcome to the Committee LTC’s new Acting CEO, Otto Shipanga, and LTC’s Randell Beukes (Technical) and Peya Jr Mushelenga (Compliance) as our new Secretary, at PO Box 19 Luderitz.

Thanks to outgoing CEO/Chairman Aunie Gideon for her input.

Now that a useful, physical start has been made by our private initiative, we are hopeful of wider support – not just from officials - in the coming months.

We look forward to more help from those whom it will benefit directly – the tourism services of all kinds in Luderitz and the //Karas Region. Some have been most generous, while others are yet to contribute. We look forward to welcoming them all as we progress. Public recognition will follow.

The more improvements we can make, and the safer the Crossing, the better for our guests and for the image and economy of the whole town and region.